I’ve been on an odd run of low-serial-number Bimota’s, so why not continue that with this Bimota SB6, which was (fittingly) serial number 6. Production of the SB6 ended in 1996, so the fact that this is titled as a 1997 means it was one of the last ones brought to the states.
1 of 25 – 2010 KTM RC8R Akrapovic Edition
In 2010, KTM started importing the RC8R to the US. To celebrate, they released two limited edition models, both of which had just 25 examples produced. One was the IDM Red Bull Edition, the other is this post’s subject – the KTM RC8R Akrapovic Edition.
2006 Ducati Sport 1000
Designed by the legendary Pierre Terblanche, the Ducati Sport 1000 actually was an evolution of the radical MH900e that evolved into a series of retro styled sportbikes. This is the Sport 1000, the “base” model (though it’s unfair to use that word in this case) and a beautiful example of Italian styling.
Great Deal – 1998 Honda SuperHawk VTR1000F
This bike is 16 years old but somehow looks spotless. If I ever bothered buying a new bike, it’d be in worse condition than this in 2 months! Kudos to the seller, who’s been able to keep this Honda SuperHawk in immaculate shape. I like to think of it as an easier-to-live with RC51. The best part? It’s being sold …
1991 Suzuki RGV250 VJ22
Nowadays, the mention of a Japanese 250 usually makes on think of the Ninja, a solid learner bike that doesn’t normally excite the senses like other current motorcycles. But 20 years ago, Suzuki built a 250 two-stroke race-replica of its Gamma V-2 racer – good for over 50 horsepower in the narrow power-band. The Suzuki RGV250 was born, and it …
2011 Honda CB1000R
I love naked bikes and when I was in Paris I couldn’t help but notice quite a few examples of the Honda CB1000R, a bike I almost never see in the US. What’s hard for me to understand is why it sold so poorly here in the US.
2000 Bimota SB8R Special
Post-Listing Update: This Bimota SB8R Special sold for $8,000 after 17 bids on eBay. I’ve featured a couple of SB8R’s before – they’re almost “common” in the world of Bimotas, ignoring how the words common and Bimota should never be used in the same sentence. But the Bimota SB8R Special lives up to its name, by taking the base bike …
2007 Buell Lightning Super TT
Post-Listing Update: This Super TT did not meet reserve with bidding up to $3,250. When it comes to streetbikes, it’s harder to have much fun (at legal speeds) than when you’re riding a supermoto. For just two years and 1,700 units, Buell channeled the supermoto feel and created the XB12STT, a tweaked version of their Lightning streetfighter, also known as …
1980 Kawasaki Z1R KZ1000
Post Sale Update: After 28 bids on eBay, this Z1R sold for $12,100. The Kawasaki Z1R was the brainchild of Wayne Moulton, known as the “Father of the Japanese Cruiser.” His belief was that a solid motorcycle could be moderately tweaked to form four versions, one of which is a sport-tourer. So he took the KZ1000 and turned it into …
Beautifully Restored – 1976 Yamaha RD400C
One of the true giant-killers in motorcycling history, the Yamaha RD400C was given plenty of praise by reviewers when it first came out. It had plenty of power, it didn’t weigh much, you could handle it with relative confidence, and even the brakes were decent. All that, and the price wasn’t bad either. Nearly 40 years later, expectations have changed …
Unassuming – 2007 Kawasaki Ninja with Yamaha RZ350 Engine
File this under ‘things I never thought I’d see’, but reader Zack B. has found someone selling their Kawasaki Ninja 250 that’s had the two-stroke engine from a RZ350 swapped in! The work looks great – with the exception of the modified DG pipes, I don’t think anyone would notice (at least at first glance) that this isn’t a stock …
Baby RC45 – 1996 Honda NC35
Post Sale Update: This NC35 sold for the BIN of $9,500. The RC45 is a bike of legend, but it’s also out of the financial reach of most motorcycle enthusiasts. That’s why I’m excited to feature the RC45’s baby brother, the Honda NC35. Only officially sold in Japan, grey market imports occasionally made it out the UK and rarely made …
Brand New – 2006 Bimota SB8K Santa Monica
8-17 Update: This Bimota SB8K Santa Monica has been relisted with a discount of just under $10k. Find it for sale now for “just” $26,500 or best offer here on eBay. I’ve had a weird run of “Brand New” bikes – motorcycles that haven’t been titled or ridden yet. After the Harley-Davidson MX250 and the Ducati 900S2, today we’ve got …
1975 Rickman Honda CR750
The Rickman brothers made a name for themselves by building incredible frames to put (usually) Triumph motors in, but in the 70s they also expanded to building frames for Japanese bikes like the Kawasaki Z1 and the Honda CB750. This is one of the latter, which can be summarized from a quote from the Rickman brothers themselves:
1975 BMW R90S Turbo
Quick – what looks like a BMW R100RS but is actually powered by a turbocharged R90S engine that’s been bored out to 1050cc? This bike! This bike has 160,000 miles – unclear how many were with the turbo on, but it’s at least 40,000. The bike has sat for a while, so it starts but runs rough. It’ll need some …